Cleveland Top Prospects 2021, Tier 5.2+5.3
Tier 5, 40+ FV
Tier 5.2 High Ceiling Mix
25. RHP Josh Wolf
Wolf is a 2019 HS draftee that signed for 2.2M with the Mets and was traded to Cleveland in the Lindor/Cookie deal. He offers the same high upside/ceiling as other HS arms in that price range, like T. McKenzie, E. Hankins and D. Espino. Wolf can jump into the top Tiers of our system with a strong full season debut. His arsenal projects for two plus pitches in his mid 90s FB and Curve, which give him a floor of a high leverage reliever if his other two pitches, SL and CH, don't develop. He'll most likely be a starter at low A this season with a chance of some A+ innings if he performs.
26. CF Petey Halpin
Halpin signed for 2nd rd money at the end of round 3 in 2020 and that's more indicative of his talent level. Arguably the best CF prospect in the system with a best case chance of above average or plus hit, defense, speed and arm tools according to scouts. And an 80 grade first name. Petey has good contact ability and plate coverage and there's enough power that could be unlocked in time. Halpin was an exciting pick at a position of need in the system. For now he gets ranked here, but the upside is system top 10. He'll debut in the AZL along with fellow CF teenagers A. Planez and I. Greene to form a must follow OF in rookie ball.
27. SS Carson Tucker
I'll be honest, I wasn't a fan of the Tucker pick at 23rd overall, even though his below slot deal helped bring in the aforementioned Halpin, so I'm a bit biased. But I also didn't hate the pick, Tucker is an interesting young talent, no doubt. He popped up in his SR year in HS and looked transformed according to scouts. His reports are all over the place, depending on when he was seen. Apparently, he's flashed a lot of tools, as some saw a hit over power and vice versa. Same story with speed and defense. It's safe to say he was inconsistent, but the athleticism was at display. Pop up HS prospects are by definition high risk/bust profiles and my bias is the recent draft history of such players (Y. Valdes, Q. Holmes). That said, I really don't have a good feel/read on Tucker yet, and compared to recent top picks he reminds me the most of Bo Naylor. He'll be part of a very talented AZL INF and roster overall.
Tier 5.3 High floor ML and MIF depth
28. 2B Richard Palacios
Now 23yo, Palacios hasn't played in pro ball for 3 years now, but he still has a plus contact bat, approach and speed and that makes him one of the better pure hitting talents in the system. He most likely will start in A+, but with his R5 status to be resolved next December, I expect him to be promoted aggressively if he performs. He can skyrocket as high as 50 FV if he does, but with so many INF options ahead right now, he's also a prime trade chip. That said, I hope we find a way to keep him.
29. 1B Bobby Bradley
It feels strange to rank Bradley here, but I believe this reflects best his organizational tweener status right now. If FG is right that he only has a 35 FV bat and thus only gets to 55 FV of his power, making him a low BA/OBP bopper, then he won't make it and isn't worthy of a starting role. I do remember Bradley's pre draft profile though and he was a talented hitter then, actually hit over power. He's obviously sold out for power, but I'm not ready to believe that a once above average projected hit tool maxes out at well below average. Bradley gives me Aguilar flashbacks, another 1B the org didn't quite believe in as a hitter. Like Aguilar, I think there's a 40 FV hit chance for Bradley, which would unlock plus 60 power. A 40/60 1B is a ML starter. With only 1 option remaining, we'll need to find out this year if Boppy (pun intended) is for real or not.
30. LHP Sam Hentges
Hentges has been stuff/potential over performance almost his entire pro career. He's flashed his talent throughout, but always struggled with consistency. He's gotten a pass for it because of his NE HS background and height. He's been a slow burn being in the org for almost 7 years now. With the SP assembled and his lack of command and consistency overall, his best of reaching the Majors is as a lefty power arm out of the pen. He wouldn't be the first starter turned high leverage LHP for Cleveland (Miller, Hand). He reached the high 90s last ST, but didn't get a call from the Alt site, despite a LHR need. Maybe the FO wasn't ready to move him to the pen yet. It'll be interesting to see what their plan is for Hentges this season in Columbus, where he'll probably open and serve as immediate pitching depth, in whatever role.
31. SS Jose Fermin
One of the best contact bats in the system with a miniscule SwStr%, one of the best in the minors. Fermin projects as a light hitting plus bat, with above average speed and defense to remain at SS. That's a very valuable profile, but one that gets overlooked in this system that seems to have so many. Fermin started his pro career slow in rookie ball, but improved ever since parallel to his physical development. He'll turn 22yo at the start of the season and I expect him to play at A+ and AA this year. He's another one to keep an eye on regarding the looming 40 roster crunch. He was eligible, but didn't get drafted this past Rule 5 draft, but if he performs again at higher levels, he'd need a roster spot, or get traded before losing him for nothing.
32. INF/CF Ernie Clement
Clement is the perfect 40+/40 FV bridge prospect. He offers two plus tools (hit/speed). Normally, that would be more of a 40 profile, but Clement is a little more than the sum of his tools. For one, he's a 80 grade bunter, so that alone along with his elite contact ability (another superb SwStr%) projects him to a valuable no.9 hitter. Add his versatility on defense, with 2B, SS and CF all in play, and you're looking at an useful Util. I also believe his fielding is underrated. Clement outperformed Nolan Jones in the competitive AFL and is one of those unspectacular prospects who's slash line will translate one to one over to ML baseball. Ernie Clement is the real Michael Martinez!
40 FV group up next...